Villa Park is a fortress no more – if £30m Taylor Harwood-Bellis is not the answer, Unai Emery must find a way to fill the glaring Ezri Konsa-shaped hole in his team after Brentford draw, writes TOM COLLOMOSSE

Tom Collomosse argues that Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is struggling to replace departed defender Ezri Konsa following a 2-2 home draw against Brentford. Aston Villa took the lead through John McGinn after Nicolas Jackson had cancelled out Yehor Yarmoliuk's opener, but Kristoffer Ajer leveled for the visitors to deny Villa their first home victory of the season.

Collomosse highlights that £30million summer signing Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Southampton failed to make the matchday squad, forcing Emery to start veteran defenders Victor Lindelof and Tyrone Mings. The writer also notes that ongoing redevelopment of Villa Park's North Stand has negatively affected the team's home form, while praising Keith Andrews' unbeaten Brentford side.